Udorn Royal Thai AFB - F-4 Flight

From 1974-1975, at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, these are still photos I (mostly) took of flightline activities in slideshow format, put to appropriate music.

At the time, I was getting to know my Canon F-1 camera with motor drive and zoom lens, and all of these slides & photos were developed by me at the base Special Services photo lab.

Airborne shots were duplicated from a "backseater" (flight photographer) I met in the photo lab using a bellows system.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• F-4
• Udorn
• Thailand

[JMKeene]

Hi Chuck,

Glad you enjoyed a piece of Udorn! I've got lots of pics up on a Yahoo site devoted to Udorn, if interested, please contact me at jmkeene at tampabay dot rr dot com.

Joe

[Terlingua27]

Great slideshow and appropriate music.

I was stationed at Udorn from May 1969

to May 1970 (432nd CES).

[JMKeene]

Thanks Terlingua. I enjoyed putting it together.

BTW, there's a couple of sites dedicated to guys from Udorn (all time periods), if interested. Let me know.

Joe

[3108frank]

I was there in the jet shop and maintaince debriefing from Sept 70-Sept 71. Yeah the Golden Palms........... and some little dive bar out of the way was a steady hang out. Time sure slipped away. It was great to see those pictures.

[JMKeene]

Glad you enjoyed the pics, Frank. It sure was a world away from real life in the US, and there hasn't been anything like it since. I've got a lot of photos... should do another vid someday... I just did that one for shits'n'giggles...

I worked in Phase Maintenance Dock #5 pulling the 6 types of 75-hour inspections. When things got heated up, they moved me to end-of-runway since I had lots of experience with Last Chance at Edwards, AFB... worked Transient Alert there for 2 1/2 years...

[subliminalvisionist]

Great shots of the phantom. I arrived in June of 74, I worked in the rapcon near the center of the runway. My first month there I made 302par approaches, most were the lead and third in flight aircraft. I loved every minute of it .the job that is. I always felt I was going to be shot by the guard walking out to the radar unit. They told us to make sure he is aware that you are there. yell and wave. So I did. Lots of coffee and bingo at the USO too. Much better than Nam or IraQ. Rice bugs yuk.

[JMKeene]

We probably crossed paths way back then, considering how compact the base and facilities were... Shoot me an email at jmkeene2000@hotmail.comSPAM and maybe we can share some photos. I'm in touch with about 6-7 other guys that were all stationed at Udorn at the same basic time, though none of them was actually there while I was there ('74-'75).

Joe

[centurion180ad]

....seen any MiGs, lately?

[strokemychode]

Very cool, thanks. I was at Udorn with the WCS shop from Feb. 74 till we pulled the E models out in Jan. 76. Drove the Avon 2 maintenance truck a lot and was a SP augmentee when we had to break the Thai guards strikes (scabbing I guess).

[MrHarley001]

Love it. I was there in 72 with the 307th. My load crew loaded Ritchie's F-4 weapons for number 5

[robbintina]

Great pictures. I was at Udorn 73-73. Worked in the Blue Section D models. My bird was 796.

Chuck Harrison

[MrSchwartzable]

@Terlingua27 , I was there, Aug, 69 to Aug. 70 . 55 weeks. That was a rough year, 2 F-4 crashed on base, and you know the rest.. 432 Supply ..We aren't getting any younger, either....Jeff yramoj@cox.net

[AcreeBonneville]

Nice, brings back the smell of bananas and monkey balls on the grill. Weapons Loader from Jan. '74 to Jan. '75. Pulled end of the run way duty, Loading Lead team for a while. This was my second short tour after a year in Cam Ranh Bay/Da Nang, Nam as a tire Kicker. Retired '88. Now living in Central California. Riding our Triumph Motorcycles with the wife AmyLee every chance we get.

Bob Acree Msgt Retired

[ElkSlayer59]

I, too, was stationed at Udorn, 432 CES. Dec '71 to Nov '72 ... COT from Phu Cat AB, RVN. Thanks for the pictures. They bring back a lot of fond memories.

[naldrvr]

This brings back some fond memories. I was in the 432nd MMS Missile Shop until December of 1975 when we left Udorn and went to Clark.

Sawadee,

Mike

[davec387]

Great video. I was at Udorn from Jan.74 to Jan. 75 as crew chief on F4E. Your photo showed my plane tail # 272 on take off. What a great blast from the past Thanks!